Florida measles cases reach 149 as South Florida reports new infections in children

Key facts

• Florida has 149 measles cases in 2026 as of April 25, ranking fourth nationally.
• Collier County accounts for 107 cases, linked to an outbreak at Ave Maria University.
• two new cases in children under age 4, totaling five this year.
• Palm Beach County recorded its first case of 2026 in a person aged 15-19 at Wellington Community High School.
• Hillsborough County had one new case in a child under 4, bringing its total to three.
• South Carolina leads the U.S. with 668 cases, followed by Utah and Texas.
• Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 due to high MMR vaccination rates.
• Vaccine coverage among kindergarteners has fallen below the 95% threshold, with some communities much lower.

New infections in South Florida children and teens

in South Florida in April, as the state holds the fourth-highest number of cases nationally for the second consecutive month. Two of the new cases were confirmed in Broward County, both in children younger than age 4, according to the Florida Department of Health. Palm Beach County recorded its first case of the year in a person between 15 and 19 years old, identified at Wellington Community High School.

Collier County outbreak slows but dominates state totals

Collier County, where an outbreak began earlier this year at Ave Maria University, has seen no new cases for the two-week period ending April 25, remaining at 107 cases for the year. That figure represents the vast majority of Florida’s 149 total cases since one new case in a child under 4, bringing its total to three.

National context: Florida ranks fourth as South Carolina leads

Three states have higher total numbers than Florida: South Carolina with 668 cases, followed by Utah and Texas, according to the most recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data updated April 24. Florida’s monthly case count has declined dramatically since February, when 105 cases were recorded and the state ranked third nationally.

Measles: a highly contagious virus with serious risks for young children

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses and can result in serious health complications for children younger than age 5. Symptoms include a runny nose, fever, cough, sore watery pink eyes (conjunctivitis) and a rash that develops a few days after fever. The disease was declared eliminated in the United States more than two decades ago due to high MMR vaccination coverage, but that protection has eroded.

Declining vaccination coverage and global resurgence fuel spread

Vaccine coverage among kindergarteners has decreased below the 95% threshold needed to maintain herd immunity, with some communities at much lower percentages. Measles activity globally is also increasing, raising the risk that unvaccinated travelers may become infected abroad and bring the virus home. The CDC recommends the MMR vaccine as the best way to prevent spread.

New Zealand reports separate measles case linked to public events

In a parallel development, Health New Zealand announced a new measles case in Wellington, with officials still investigating the source. Several locations of interest have been identified, including a New World supermarket in Whitby and a Woolworths in Papakowhai. Earlier this week, Health NZ warned that people may have been exposed at the Warbirds Over Wānaka airshow (April 3-5) or the Ultra New Zealand music festival in Wellington on April 10.

The bottom line

• Florida’s 149 measles cases in 2026 are concentrated in Collier County, where an outbreak at Ave Maria University began.
• New cases in Broward and Palm Beach counties involve children and a teenager, highlighting spread beyond the initial cluster.
• National case counts remain high, with South Carolina, Utah, and Texas reporting more cases than Florida.
• Declining MMR vaccination coverage among kindergarteners and increased global measles activity are driving the resurgence.
• Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 but has returned due to falling immunization rates.
• Health authorities in New Zealand are also responding to a new case potentially linked to large public gatherings.